Trump holds rally at Bryce Jordan Center

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -With 10 days remaining until election day, former President Donald Trump made a stop at Penn State University’s Bryce Jordan Center (BJC) to address an arena of political supporters. Pennsylvania’s congressional vote is shaping up to be a crucial component for the potential success of either candidate as Nov. 5 looms.

Hundreds were gathered along Curtin Road by as early as 9 a.m. on the morning of the rally, and lines began queuing into the BJC around 11 a.m. as more students, locals and out-of-town travelers arrived.

Rally signs, merchandise and proclamations from outside the venue featured an ideological smorgasbord of fealty and devoutness towards Trump, with one megaphone-touting religious fellow decreeing that Trump has a filthy heart and that he must be saved.

Other signs read as such: “Trump - Chosen by God”.

Rally attendees waiting in line being berated by the megaphone grew tired of this religious inquisition on their candidate of choice, and united in a chant to drown out the megaphone: “TRUMP! TRUMP! TRUMP!”

To which the megaphone-touting fellow began his own chant of “JESUS! JESUS! JESUS!”

Soon both parties grew tired and the chants dissipated, either due to fatigue or apathy.

Despite this half-conflict, if it can even be called that, found within the rest of the rally proceedings and above a thin atmospheric layer of tension existed a unique feeling of unity and togetherness in its purest form.

Strangers happily engaged each other in conversations to pass the time, opening up about their hometowns, professions and families.

Those in attendance truly seemed excited, even relieved to be surrounded by people who shared the same beliefs as them, and for a day, as long as you were wearing a red “MAGA” hat, you could be a part of that in-group too.

Doors opened at noon and seats were filled by 2 p.m. when event programming was slated to begin.

Notably, upper sections of the BJC were sealed off, and draped in black curtains, either due to security concerns or optics on attendance. Regardless, it created an illusion of a college arena filled to the brim, while operating at near half capacity.

Remarks were made by Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene as well as local businessmen and Penn State student-organizers.

Greene made sure to hammer in the point of how important winning Pennsylvania is for the Trump campaign, noting its similar swing-state nature to her home of Georgia.

“It doesn’t matter what you think about the system. You still have to vote. Because if you don’t vote, and you sit it out, you’re allowing everything to continue to go on that you don’t like,” said Greene, encouraging action in the upcoming election.

It was around this time word made its way through the arena that Trump was likely to be late; he was still in Michigan, and he was slated to speak in just an hour.

The revolving door of guest speakers eventually petered out, and attendees settled back down as they anticipated the arrival of the former president. Many had been at or near the BJC for upwards of eight or nine hours, and demeanors were beginning to sour.

Trump was scheduled to speak at 4 p.m. and did not show up until around 5:45 p.m.

Attendees sat in their seats for the entirety of that nearly two-hour period, as the venue playlist (which up until that point had kept the crowd in good spirits, occasionally having pockets break out into song and dance) began to loop in on itself.

“It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World” by James Brown was played four times in the waiting period for Trump to make his stage appearance. With an arena that had grown relatively quiet, the volume emanating from the speakers was deafening and almost certainly imbued a few migraines.

Hours before, attendees were happily singing along to “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond. Eventually, any needle drop of a heard-prior track was met with boos and profanity.

Perhaps it was no surprise then that by the time Trump was 30 minutes into his routine, half of the arena had gotten up out of their seats and left.

Trump’s arrival did spark some life into the arena.

“I’d like to begin with a very simple question. Are you better off now than you were four years ago?”

To which the crowd replied with a resounding “NO!”

The major focus was attributed to the proposed illegitimacy of the 2020 election, as well as immigration and the border and proposed tax cuts to bring home auto-manufacturing to the United States.

Trump and those in attendance reveled in the opportunity to critique Trump’s running opponent Kamala Harris for her tenure as standing vice president as well as her history as California’s attorney general.

Despite the depleted energy of those in attendance and many more who couldn’t make it to the finish line, Trump still worked the crowd well and had a successful outing.

Boo’s poured in at the proper time amidst any mention of illegal immigrants, and cheers struck out at proposed tariffs on China.

For such a tight race in Pennsylvania, Trump’s growth margin as a result of this event and constant work on the campaign trail could make all the difference.

The majority of election polls are currently showing Pennsylvania to be a toss-up with a slight favoring towards Trump.

Trump is slated to return to State College next week at the Penn State/Ohio State game where he will be in attendance.

Trip Tagle is a second-year majoring in digital and print journalism. To contact them, please email tnt5403@psu.edu.